Flying machine



pril 8 E. L. -TRIMBLE FLYING MACHINE Filed Jul 26. 1%21 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 8 E. L. TRIMBLE FLYING MACHINE Filed July 26. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ,5 ze :56 :se

Jul@ Jig Patented pr. 8, 1924.

` UmTED` STATESl nRNFs'r n Tamm, or PHILADELPHM. PENNSYLVANIA.

` FLYING MACHINE l Application led July 26, 1921. Serial No. k487,673.

To all lwhom t may concern:

Beit known that I, ERNEST L. TRIMBLE, a

.citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain nevi7 and useful Improvements in FlyingMachines, of which the following' is va s eciication.

'ne object ofmy invention is to provide an. improved iiying machine of the aeroplane type; the same including planes so arranged and designed as to eect stable support of the machine while flying.

Another object is to so arrange the plane structurethat the bow or front end can be made pointed and capable of ready optional deviation `luring the steering of the machine and so that the rear or stern portion can be made of such width and character as vzo F1 fthe s to be capable of supporting great weight.

A further object 1s to so construct my improved machine that it will respond readily to the steering action andso that it can develop greatspeed.

A still further object is to so design and construct the parts that they will be strong and durable.

These objects,V and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference beinglhad to the accompanying drawings in whic Figure 1 is a top plan view of a flying machine made in accordance with'my- 'invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine cshown in Figure 1 Figure 3 is an dlevation of said machine looking at the front end,

Figure Il is an elevation 'of said machine looking at the rear end, l

'iure 5 is -a longitudinal section showing eleton or framework; said section being taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1,

Fi e 6 is a transverse section taken on the hue-'6 6 of Figure 2'and drawn ons-'a sli htly enlarged scale,

. Fi e 7 is a transverse section taken on lthe hne 7-7 of-Figure 2 .and drawn on a :slightly enlarged scale,

trolling elements ofthe machine which fl may employ',y

Figure 9 is a 9-9 of Figure 8,

section takenon the linev Figure 10 is a section taken on the line 10-10 ofFigure 8, and

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the longitudinal sha ing of the main plane.

Referring to the rawings, 12 represents an elongated body portion which, as illustrated, is made up of a Jframework and includes a central elongated portion 13 which in cross section, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, is preferably made rectangular andntapering forwardly from a portion 15 adjacent the rear end 16 to the front end 17 as shown in Figure 5.` From the portion 15 to the rear end 16 the central elongated portion 13 tapers rearwardly. The body portion 12 above the central part 13 tapers upwardly in lcross section to provide an upper ridge 18 with slanting sides 19 as clearly shown in Figures 6 and 7. v This ridge 18 slants downwardly and forwardly from a position Shown at 20 to a position shown at 21. The

ridge 18 is discontinued at 21 to provide a space for a rudder 22 which is pivoted to an upright-23; said' upright in the present instance forming the rear standard for a central upright bow vane 24 which tapers downwardly to the front end 17. The ridge 18 to the rear of the portion 20 as illustrated in Figure 5 tapers downwardly to therear end 16.

A bottom ridge 25 is `positioned below the central part 13 and in cross section ta ers downwardly as shown in Figures 6 and to provide slanting sides 26; the bottom ridge slanting upwardly from the position 27 to the front end 17 and also slanting upwardly from a position to the rear of 27 to the rear end 16. The front of the body portion is supported normally on a ground-engaging wheel 29; said wheel having its axle in a lever 30 which is pivoted between its ends at `31 to a depending bracket 32. The end 33 of the lever opposite the end which supports the wheel 29 is connected by a spring 34; saidspring also being connected to a forward part of the body portion 12.

" A frame 35, as clearly shown in Figure 6, includes transversely extending bottom ribs 36 and transversely extending top ribs 37; said bottoni and top ribs being arranged in pairs and extending through the central part 13 of the body portion 12. The pairs of ribs are connected together by longitudinally extending bracing members 38 at their tops and bottoms between the opposite side edges 39; saidside edges converging forj wardly'to the front end 17. from portions indicated at 40 in Figure 1. From the portions 40 the side edges '39 extend approxi- )matelyl parallel -toward the rear edge 41; said edgesslightly converging rearwardly as shown at 42.

The frame 35 is interrupted within its length to provide a space 43 in which are mounted motor-driven propellers 44, one arranged at each side of the body portion'12.

Binding loops 45, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, connect theside edge ortions of the frame 35. The ribs 36 and 3 of the frame 35 are preferably so arranged as to extend between the uprights 46 of the central part 1 3 of the body portion 12. These ribs are securedv to the framework of the part 13'- and are preferably made continuous as clearly shown in Figures 6 and 7.

The frame 35 Iis covered'` by cloth 47 on its top and bottom outside of the confines of the central part 13 ofthe body portion 12 and thus the covered frame 35 forms a main I' plane 48 extending lengthwise of lthe body portion. The body portion 12 including the top ridge 18 and the bottom ridge 2 5 is also covered with cloth 49 serving as an air re-` i sistant portion.

One of the important features of my resent invention resides in the longitu inal contour of the main plane 48 as shown in Figure 2 andas diagrammatically illustrated -in .Figure '11. As illustrated the bottom surface 50 of the main plane 48 is flat from the front end 17 to the part 51; the same being coincident normally with a horizontal plane 52 indicated in Figure 11. 'Fromthe position 51 the surface 50 curves upwardlyv and rearwardly in a comparatively abrupt curve as shown at 53. From the portion 53 the curvature becomes less abrupt and extends downward to a position 54 below the plane 52. This arrangement of the surface on bars 57; the forward portions 58of thehas two advantages. In the first place,l

the comparativel flat portion between the the position 51 serves as ward comparatively light weight portion of the machine and to permit the ready steering thereof. The arrangement of the curved rear portion of the plane 48 forms a, supporting pocket 55 which on the forward movement of the plane effects a resistance of the air on the part 53 causing a.greater air resistance on the rear portion of the plane to support the comparatively heavy rear part of the machine.

I provide elevation wing planes 56 at o posite sides of the forward portion of t e l machine preferably opposite the rudder 22. These wing planes are pivoted transversely planes 56 being tapered forwardly preferably to a point while the rear ortlons cf the planes 56 taper rearward y. These Lasso* planes 56 can be tilted by any suitable means and I have illustrated rods 59 and 60 which are connected by cables 61 and 62 respectively as shown in Figures 1 and 2; said and downwardly by means of cables 71 andA 72 which are also connected to the member 63. It will be noted, however, that I may use any suitable means for operating the vane wings, rudder and members 68.

It will benoted that by providing-the mounting for the wheel 29, when the machine moves downwardly, the wheel 29-will engage the ground and `the lever 30 will be swung on its pivot. AThis will place the spring 34 under tension. Thus a resilient Jmeans is providedv to prevent the forward end of the machine'from sudden shock when the machine initial engages the ground.

'While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts of my invention may be chan ed without departing from the spirit thereo and hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth, but

consider that I am at liberty to makesuch- I claim as-new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A flying machine including a support` ing plane having a fiat forward supporting portion and a rear portion curved upwardly and then downwardly, said curve from a position adjacent said Hat portion being more abrupt than at positions remote -from said flat portion; and an upright vane extending through the longitudinal axis of said main plane and tapering forwardly andi rear# wardly from said .curved portion; substantially as described.

2. A iying machine including'` a main supporting plane having its longitudinal axis located centrally ofthe machine and having a llat forward supporting ortion and a rear portion curved upwardly and thengdownwardly, said cu'rve from a posi- 4tion adjacentsaid flat portion being more tion extending below a plane coincident with the lane of said flat portion; and a forwar y 'and rearwardly tapering upright u.

'vane extending through said axis of the main lplane; substantially as described.

3. flying machine including a main; plane having a wide rear supporting portion and ltapering toward its front end and being disrupted within aits length at a position nearer-its wide end than to its front end, to provide a space; an upright vane extending through the longitudinal axis of said main plane; propelling means within said -space atl each side of saidv upright vane; and outwardly bowed loops bridglng said space and secured to portions of said plane forward and rearward of said space; substantially as described.

4. 'A flying machine including a main supporting plane having a broad rear portion and therefrom taperlng within its width toward the front end; an upright vane having its top portion slanting upwardly from the front of said main plane toward said broad rear portion; and ay rudder pivotally mounted in the forward slanting ortion to swing into and out of the plane of) said vane; substantially as described.

5. A flying machine including a main supporting plane tapering toward its front end in the direction of its width; and a ridge projecting upwardly from said main plane and extending in the direction of the length thereof, said ridge having sides tapering upwardly in cross section, said ridge also having its top slanting forwardly and rearwardly toward said main plane and forming a point at the rear thereof; substantially as described.

6. A flying machine including a main supporting plane tapering in the direction of its width toward its front end; and means providing longitudinal ridges extending above and below said main plane and located centrally within its width, said ridges tapering forwardly and coming to a point at the rear of said plane; substantially as described.-

7. A ying machine including a main supporting'. planeA having a broad rear portion and tapering therefrom to its forward end; an upright l vane extending longitudinally through said mainplane, ta'pering forwardpoint at the rear of said plane; said upright vane slantingl from its sides to alridge atzthe top and bottom; and a forward rudder mounted to swing in and out of the plane of said vane; -substantially as described.v

8. A iiying machine including a main supporting plane having a broad rear supporting portion and tapering therefrom to itsl front end; an upright vane extending 10ng'itudinally through the longitudinal center of said main plane, tapering forwardly in both its width and its 'height from said broad portion and running to a point at the rear of said plane,- said upright vane slanting from its sides to a rid ,at the top and the bottom; and a forwar rudder mounted to swing in' and out of the plane of said vane; substantially as described. 9. Ay dying machine including a main supporting plane having a broad rear portion and tapering therefrom toward its front end; an upright vane extending longitudinally through said main plane, tapering forwardly from said broad portion and ending in a point at the rear of said plane; a forward rudder mounted to swing in and out of the plane of said vane; stabilizing members mounted in the broad portion of said plane, opposite the deep portion of said vane; and a cross passage across said plane forward of the stabilizing members with a propelling member thereinat each side of said upright vane; substantially asl described. A

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. ERNEST L. TRIMBLE.

Witnesses:

ELIZABETH GABBE, CEAS. E. Porre.

ly from said broad portion and runnlng to a 'Y 

